Latest news with #DannyCare
BBC News
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
'End of an era' - why the Premiership will change
Back in December 2012 England shocked the rugby world, thrashing a great New Zealand team against the odds in front of an enraptured was a fresh-looking England group assembled by head coach Stuart Lancaster, many at the start of their international careers. A host would go on to be mainstays at the next two – or even three - Rugby World Cole, Mike Brown, Ben Youngs and Alex Goode all started that day. More than 12 years on, they all say goodbye to English rugby in the coming days and weeks. Danny Care, who was on the bench, is also bowing while it is customary for a handful of great servants to retire from the game at the end of any season, seldom have a group of this calibre left the stage men have played for England more than 35-year-old Youngs and Cole, 37, both Test centurions and Leicester one-club man Goode, 37, recently played his 400th game for Saracens, for whom he has won a whopping six Premiership titles and played in nine legend Care, 38, another Test centurion, made his England debut in 2008 and retired from international duty 16 years later in 2024; an unprecedented Brown is still playing at the top level at the age of 39. Only Richard Wigglesworth, Care and Goode have more Premiership appearances than the durable of them have given a huge amount to the English game. It is the end of an era."It seems like loads of us have gone at the same time," Care said, citing also the mid-season retirements of generational players Joe Marler and Anthony Watson."But it's probably a sign of the times a little bit. There are so many academy kids, younger boys replacing older boys now."So the squad dynamic is probably a little bit different. There aren't many of us anymore!"But it does feel like a bit of an end of an era. A lot of lads who have played a lot of rugby for club and country, going at the same time." On this note, Cole admitted in his retirement announcement he didn't want to be "the old guy, sitting around and hanging on," as financially-challenged Premiership clubs put their faith in they have all done remarkably well to get this who will turn 40 in September, has put his longevity down to a love of the game, self-drive, and a desire to make family 2007 Youngs became Leicester's youngest ever player, aged just 17, and is still trucking almost two decades points to improvements in sports science, a lower training load, and a healthy slice of luck, while he believes time away from the international game can also help with recovery."We used to do two double training days a week, and we wouldn't dream of doing that now," Youngs says."There is greater emphasis on recovery and looking after the body. So that has all changed."International rugby also takes its toll but because some of us have stepped away later in our careers, it has allowed us to freshen up for a couple more seasons."What position you play is also a factor - Youngs and Care are scrum-halves and Goode and Brown full-backs - with warhorse prop Cole something of an outlier."I play a different sport to the big lads. I'm not getting the collisions all the time - it is more the stress on the joints," says Care."What position you play definitely has an effect, and allows you to have longevity. But I would say we are all pretty stubborn too!" Youngs adds."That also helps, because you have to be willing to keep doing it for as long as you do."Care agrees: "Love for the game and playing for a really cool team has also made me go for longer."But while Care has already played his last game for his beloved Quins, Goode could still bow out winning a record-equalling seventh title, although Saracens need results to go their way on the final day of the regular season on the Leicester trio of Youngs, Cole, and Brown it could also end in fairytale fashion, with the Tigers guaranteed a place in the top four, likely a home semi-final, and a shot at next month's whoever ends up celebrating on the Twickenham turf on 14 June, the Premiership will feel a very different place next season.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Danny Care to retire from rugby after 19 years with Harlequins: 'It's finally time'
Harlequins and former England scrum-half Danny Care has announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of the season. The 38-year-old announced on Tuesday that he was hanging up his boots after almost two decades with Quins, making 393 total appearances across all competitions - a club record in the professional era - and scoring 111 tries and 587 points after joining as a teenager from Leeds Tykes in 2006. Care won two Premiership titles at The Stoop in 2012 and 2021 in addition to the 2011 European Challenge Cup and last year signed a new one-year contract to take his stay in south-west London into a 19th season after rejecting a lucrative move abroad. That came after he had retired from international duty following the 2024 Six Nations, having amassed 101 caps for England since 2008 and won three Six Nations championships, including a Grand Slam under Eddie Jones in 2016. Thank you @dannycare ❤️#COYQ | #DC9 — Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) May 13, 2025 'So, it's finally time. Unfortunately, after 19 years of playing for this incredible Club, I'm going to be retiring from rugby at the end of the season,' said Care, who will remain at Harlequins moving forward in an ambassadorial role. 'I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting a lad from Leeds come down to this Club and feel like home from day one. 'To all the fans. Thank you for everything you've given me and my family. As I said, you brought us into your hearts. You've sung my name louder than it's ever deserved. And I can't really put into words what representing this Club and playing in front of you all has meant to me. 'To Charles and to Duncan, the owners of the Club - two magnificent people, who've given me this opportunity to play here, and have stuck by me all these years – thank you both. I'd also like to thank all my amazing teammates, all the coaches, staff members who have been a part of my career. 'I will be supporting this Club forever, and I'll always be a Quin.' Harlequins' director of rugby Billy Millard said of Care: 'It has been an honour to work with Danny these last 6 seasons. He will go down as one of the greatest to play for Harlequins, and his spirit and approach to the game has luckily been passed down to our group of players. 'I will never forget that look on his face after we won the Premiership in 2021, he drove the back end of that season brilliantly. His impact at this club has been immense and his presence and cheeky grin will be missed around the environment.'
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Rugby Confidential: Inside the minefield facing free agents this summer, Bath bolter lined up for England call and Saracens star signs new deal
On Sunday afternoon, the man with the microphone at the Stoop took after the post-match proceedings and directed everyone's eyes towards Danny Care in the middle of the pitch. This was the Care's retirement day. There was sorrow about the departure of a club legend but he bowed out on his own terms and the mood felt more like a celebration.
Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Danny Care bows out as winner in final game at Twickenham Stoop
Marcus Smith conjured a moment of individual magic to beat Exeter Chiefs and ensure Danny Care's final game at the Twickenham Stoop ended in a celebration. The England playmaker, delaying his arrival at the British & Irish Lions' first meet-up to turn out alongside his mate at home one last time, feared the worst when Exeter led heading into the final quarter. One sublime passage of play from a player whose faltering season has been re-energised by his Lions selection changed all that: 30 metres out, and with no space to work in, he somehow weaved his way through a posse of defenders to score. It was a moment worthy of winning any game and for it to have been one which meant so much
The Independent
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Danny Care's final appearance at The Stoop ends with Harlequins victory
Harlequins marked Danny Care 's final appearance at The Stoop with a hard-fought 24-22 victory over struggling Exeter. Earlier in the week, the 38 year old scrum-half announced his retirement after a record 395 appearances for the club to add to his 101 England caps and he came off the bench in the 64th minute to see his side regain the lead and ensure a fairytale ending. Cadan Murley, Will Porter and Marcus Smith scored Harlequins' tries with Smith converting all three and adding a penalty. Tommy Wyatt, Rus Tuima and Stu Townsend scored Exeter's tries with Henry Slade adding two conversions and a penalty. It took Quins less than three minutes to open the scoring when a pre-planned three-quarter move was perfectly executed to present Murley with a 25-metre run to the line. Exeter soon suffered two further setbacks when first centre Tamati Tua was yellow-carded for a high challenge on home skipper Alex Dombrant before Porter capitalised by forcing his way over from close-range. The first quarter ended without a single attack from Chiefs but with their first they made it count when Josh Hodge made a clean break to set up the opportunity for Tuima. Tua returned from the sin-bin and in time to see his side score a second try through Wyatt but Slade missed the conversion to leave Exeter trailing 14-12 at the interval. Three minutes after the restart, Exeter took the lead for the first time when Townsend crossed the line to reward strong runs from Tuima and Wyatt and that was the only score of the third quarter. It was one-way traffic during that period as Harlequins penned their opponents in their half but a lack of passing accuracy and spirited defence from Chiefs prevented the home side from benefitting. However, from nowhere Smith produced a moment of magic by wriggling past two defenders for an excellent solo try but Slade responded with a 30-metre penalty. That made the score 22-21 in Exeter's favour whereupon Care was immediately introduced and six minutes later, Smith knocked over a simple penalty to set up a tense finish. With two minutes remaining, Wyatt was yellow-carded for a deliberate offside but Quins were unable to secure a fourth try, which would have kept alive their slim hopes of a play-off spot. Exeter fought to the very end and were unlucky losers but ultimately the day belonged to Care. PA
